Magpies have earned a percentage of Forster's sale to Southampton but could rue the day they sold him - especially if he performs well against them

Newcastle United are understood to have pocketed around £2.5million from Fraser Forster’s move from Celtic to Southampton.

The sell-on clause was smart business by United two years ago when he was flogged up the road to Scotland – but some people still argue he should never have been sold.

His £10million move from the SPL to the south coast means the 26-year-old’s dream of playing in the English top flight is finally a reality.

When he makes his debut for the Saints this weekend at Liverpool, Newcastle will be given a close-up look at exactly what they let go when a deal to sell him to Celtic was sanctioned by Alan Pardew two years ago.

It was a tough decision by United to let Forster head north of the border.

Yet at 24, and after loan stints at Stockport, Bristol Rovers and Norwich City, the 6ft 7in stopper had proved he could do it at senior level.

Back in 2007 I witnessed a youthful Forster catching the eye in the United reserves under Lee Clark, and it was obvious he had enough ability to succeed.

However, United could not seem to accommodate the Hexham-born, Jesmond-educated goalie, who has since gone on to play for England.

Coaches at Newcastle knew that Forster was a talent. Actually, so did he.

However, there is nothing wrong with a bit of confidence – in fact, you cannot play football without it.

Forster had no issue with telling Alan Pardew he felt he should be No 1 at Newcastle.

He knocked on his door at the training ground on several occasions when United had Tim Krul, Steve Harper and Forster were all vying for the gloves.

Yet juggling three top goalkeepers for one slot was just impossible for Pardew.

Forster had made it clear in 2011 he was ready for the Premier League.

He told me when United were training in Kansas City in the USA: “If I am not No 1, I will not be staying.”

So it proved.

Pardew did not seem to trust Forster in the same way he did Krul.

He even managed to rub the good folk of Scotland up the wrong way with a line or two about the standard of the SPL and commented after his first loan stint with Celtic.

Pardew said: “I think he is coming back to a completely different level of football, I will tell you that now.

“We have watched that division and watched him all year.

“We have been disappointed with the quality of the games, other than the occasional Rangers versus Celtic game, and even some of those have been poor.”

Yet still Forster did not get the fair crack of the whip he was asking for.

Ex-Toon and Celtic coach Alan Thompson is not surprised to see Forster in England colours.

He said: “I worked a lot with big Fraser. It was my idea at Celtic in the management team to take him up there. I knew what he could do – I knew his attitude was spot on.”

Forster could come back to haunt the Magpies next month when the Saints face Newcastle on September 13.

By that time Pardew will either be under the cosh after an indifferent start or United will be flying.

At Southampton they could hit “the wall” – quite literally. It was the Spanish Press who labelled Forster ‘La Gran Muralla’ (the big wall) after Celtic defeated Barcelona in the Champions League.

A delighted Forster said after his move to the Saints: “I know Celtic wanted me to stay and I know they did everything they possibly can to keep me.

“However, I felt now was the right time for a new challenge in the English Premier League.”

With a fixture against his old club just around the corner, it might not be the most convenient time for United because rest assured Forster will be out to show the black-and-whites they were wrong to move him on.

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